University of Oregon
Florida
Volleyball Handed First Loss of Season
09/04/15 | Women's Volleyball
AUSTIN, Texas ? The 11th-ranked Oregon volleyball team was handed its first loss of the season at the Vert Challenge at the University of Texas, Friday, falling to No. 4 Florida, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20.
How it Happened: Though the Ducks (5-1) hit .273 for the match, it was not enough compared to the Gators' line of .440. The Ducks had trouble stopping a strong middle attack of Rhamat Alhassan and Simone Antwi who tallied a combined 24 kills.
Slow starts in each set forced the Ducks to fight from behind, going down 7-1, 6-2 and 4-1 in the first, second and third sets, respectively. In each set the Ducks were able to mount a comeback but, Florida had enough to answer.
Taylor Agost came on strong in the third set, tallying eight kills to finish with a team-high 12. Martenne Bettendorf was also effective in notching nine kills without making an error to hit .409 for the match, the third time she has surpassed .400 this season.
What it Means: With another match against fourth-ranked Nebraska on Saturday, the Ducks will have an immediate opportunity to restore confidence. The Ducks have lined the preseason schedule with tournament teams but the Gators were the first of many ranked opponents on the schedule. Back to back matches against high-caliber teams will resemble what the Ducks face in Pac-12 play, as well as what it's like to play when it matters most ? the NCAA Tournament.
Notes and Numbers: Amanda Benson led the team with 14 digs...the performance by Taylor Agost continues a string of success, averaging 3.08 kills/set and hitting .414 over the past three matches, each of which lead the team.
What's Next: The Ducks will face No. 4 Nebraska on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT in the final match of the tournament. The match will be televised on the Longhorn Network.
Players Mentioned
